| Content | JN writes to Eugene Zamecnik that he doesn't know what he can learn from him. Sometimes it happens to JN that he doesn't learn from others, but just envies how they can write. However, there is a need to keep going to improve oneself, that could be considered the meaning of life. Thank you for sending the record, which is great mainly because it features the voice of Bohuslav Martinů. He praises EZ for the way he composes for violin, but doesn't like his work for piano, it's too ascetic. BM wasn't a pianist either, but his piano parts were always enviable. He also comments on the work of Jan Trojan. He has always been embarrassed by the old mods and doesn't know why they should follow the theory of the ancient Greeks. However, he has no time to worry about theory, practice is much more fun. If he knew JT's address, he would send him his old harmonisations of Moravian songs. He praises EZ for his diligence. He cannot yet come to the performance of the opera Beetle Bag, but he is to greet Rudolf Žák [author of the libretto]. He also briefly reviews other things EZ does. He writes that he [JN] never learned to work with the brass band, that he envies EZ. JN has now completed a symphony for Aarhus. However, he does not hope for a prize. On Tuesday he leaves for New York to see his daughter [Dora Nováková]. In the end he still asks EZ why he is writing a sad orchestral thing, whether he is doing so well that he can afford it. JN is poor, so he writes all cheerfulness to make money. EZ is supposed to salute Istvan, and both are good composers in JN's opinion. |